These pictures are of the many sad memorials erected by friends & family to honor murder and other violence victims in the Washington DC area. These spontaneous, homemade, heartfelt creations are found on streets throughout the region. They are often the only physical tribute to the many slaying victims.
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

From a DC police report: Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced on September 20,2011 that the death of Gaurav Gopalan, has been ruled a homicide by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of DC.

On Saturday, September 10, 2011, at approximately 5:20 am, units from the Third District responded to the 2600 block of 11th Street NW, for the report of a man down. Upon arrival, the units discovered Gaurav Gopalan, 35, unconscious and unresponsive. DC Fire and EMS transported the decedent to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to several reports, Gaurav Gopalan held a PhD in engineering from the University of Maryland. A friend said he had also been involved with the former Washington Shakespeare Company, with credits as a director and stage manager.

This memorial, composed almost entirely of beautiful flowers, is at the site of his slaying; just two blocks from his home.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

From a DC police report: On Saturday, June 25, 2011, at approximately 1:39 am, personnel from the Sixth District responded to the 5900 block of Eads Street NE, Washington DC, for a call to check on the welfare of an individual. Upon arriving, an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds was located. The victim, Bobby Lee Jackson, was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where he was pronounced dead.

The red-brick, barred-window building outside of which Bobby Jackson died is on a grassy hillside at the corner of 60th and Eads streets NE. The words “RIP Bob” have been written in black spray paint on the wall of the building in front of which he died. A makeshift memorial of Heineken beer bottles and stuffed animals sits nearby. Two vigils were held at the site.

Much of this information is from a recent story about the situation is in the Washington Post.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

From a DC Police report: On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at approximately 3:09 pm, an officer from the Fifth District was flagged down in the 1200 block of Neal Street NE, Washington DC, to investigate the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, the officer observed a female suffering from multiple lacerations to her body. DC Fire and EMS responded and transported the victim, identified as Alicia Wheeler, 42, to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.The Metropolitan Police Department's 5th District officers apprehended the suspect, identified as Claude Kinney, 48, and he was charged with First Degree Murder While Armed.

The killing was in an alley behind the Cole Recreation Center. According to charging documents, Ms. Wheeler's children may have witnessed the stabbing, and may have been the witnesses who alerted the police.

She had repeatedly had court restraining orders against Mr. Kinney, who apparently was upset about a child custody issue.HomicideWatch has considerably more information on this heartbreaking case.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

From a DC police report: At 10:34 p.m. Monday, Fifth District police heard gunshots in the 1900 block of Bennett Place NE, Washington DC, and then saw a man being chased and shot multiple times at by a masked man with a gun. The victim, identified as Tyrell Fogle, 17, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and collapsed in the 1900 block of Bennett Place NE. DC Fire and EMS transported Mr. Fogle to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. Officers chased the armed masked man and arrested him in the 700 block of 21st Street, NE. Anthony Hatton, 18, of Southeast Washington, DC, is charged with murder while armed.

One large shrine, with an exceptional amount of testimony written on the sidewalk, was set up by his loved ones at the site of his death on Bennett Place NE. Another large shrine, in the 300 block of 18th Place NE DC, was created during a vigil near the home he grew up in. His vigil was held on what would have been his 18th birthday.

These photographs are from both sites.

According to a neighbor I spoke to on Bennett Place, young Mr. Fogle was shot several times- she thought she had heard multiple gunshots. Another person also told me that his girlfriend is pregnant with his child, and speculated that she "must be devastated."

According to neighbors and friends, he was a positive kid, involved in sports- a very handsome young man, likely shot in a dispute regarding jealousy and a romantic situation.

This small memorial to Wyatt Earp Robinson is on a busy corner of Minnesota Avenue NE, next to a seafood store and a MacDonalds.

From a DC Police report: On Sunday, August 21, 2011, at approximately 6:55 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue NE, Washington DC, to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male lying on the sidewalk, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. Subsequently, the victim, Wyatt Earp Robinson, 33, was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Ricardo Mitchell, 32, of Temple Hills MD, has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Wyatt Earp Robinson.

From HomicideWatch: A DC police officer "romantically linked" to Ricardo Mitchell could face criminal charges connected with the murder of Wyatt Earp Robinson, Paul Wagner from MyFoxDC reports. Law enforcement sources say the officer, who is assigned to the Second District, first told investigators she had not witnessed the crime. Then, upon further questioning she changed her story. Admitting she was in the 3900 block of Clay Place NE when detectives say Ricardo Mitchell, 32, shot and killed Wyatt Robinson. The officer, who sources say is a veteran with at least 10 years of service, has had her police powers revoked. She could face obstruction of justice and or accessory after the fact charges.

From a DC police report: On Sunday, August 28, 2011, at approximately 7:38 pm, units from the First District responded to the 200 block of N Street NW, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim, Dominic Dixon, 21, to the hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. A second adult victim was located in the area of 4th and M Streets NW suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
From HomicideWatch: “I was at the basketball court on N street across from Dunbar yesterday evening. Not even five minutes after leaving and entering my house, I heard sirens, saw flashing lights and the helicopter above. From what the neighbors are saying, two young people were shot near the basketball court, with one not surviving."